Sports Watch

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The Orlando Magic set an NBA Finals record for field-goal accuracy Tuesday night, yet they barely escaped with a victory.

The Magic are within two games to 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers after pulling out a 108-104 win at Orlando. Orlando established two Finals records, hitting 75% of its shots in the first half and finishing at 63% for the game. Rafer Alston went 8 for 12 from the field in scoring 20 points after being held to only 10 over the first two games.

Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis each had a team-high 21 points for the Magic, while Hedo Tukoglu (HEE'-doo TUR'-kuh-loo) and Mickael Pietrus (PREE'-truhs) each had 18.

The Lakers hurt themselves at the line, hitting just 16 of their 26 free throws. Kobe Bryant shot 5 for 10 from the line while scoring a game-high 31 points. But Bryant had only 10 points in the second half, shooting 4 for 15 after the opening period.

Game 4 is Thursday in Orlando.

Kings choose Paul Westphal to be next coach

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement in principle with Paul Westphal to be their next coach.

Westphal, who has coached the Phoenix Suns and the Seattle SuperSonics, will replace interim coach Kenny Natt. The Kings finished 17-65, the worst record in the NBA and in franchise history.

Westphal is Sacramento's fourth new coach in just over three years since the club fired Rick Adelman in 2006 following eight straight playoff appearances. Eric Musselman, Reggie Theus and Natt all have been dismissed by Sacramento, with Natt replacing Theus last December.

Kapono averaged 7.2 points and 2 rebounds per game last season with Toronto.

The Raptors get rebounding help in Evans, who averaged 3.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game last season.

Pens square series

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin failed to register a point Tuesday night, but that didn't stop the Pittsburgh Penguins from forcing a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup finals.

Marc-Andre Fleury turned back 25 shots and the Penguins stretched the series to the limit by downing the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 in Pittsburgh. Fleury made 13 saves in the final period and was perfect until Kris Draper made it 2-1 with 11:59 remaining.

Jordan Staal opened the scoring 51 seconds into the second period on an assist from Tyler Kennedy, who made it 2-0 early in the third period.

Rob Scudari (skuh-DEHR'-ee) also had an assist and made three huge stops in front of the Pittsburgh net during a scramble in the closing moments.

Game 7 is Friday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, where the Red Wings are 10-1 in the playoffs, including a 3-0 mark in this series.

Sutter leaves Devils after short stint in New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Brent Sutter (SUHT'-ur) has resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils with one year remaining on his 3-year contract.

Sutter cites family reasons in making the decision, saying the Devils' crushing loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series had nothing to do with it. New Jersey was beaten in the opening round in each of 2 seasons under Sutter.

Coyotes fate in the balance

PHOENIX (AP) - A relocation fee imposed by the NHL could ruin Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

The potential fee was a consistent topic during a 6 1/2-hour hearing on the team's fate in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Tuesday. The judge said his reading of case law shows the NHL owns the right to the Hamilton region and would be entitled to a fee if a team is located there.

Beckett stifles Yankees...Mets top Phils

(AP) - The Boston Red Sox have grabbed a share of first place in the American League by improving to 6-0 against the New York Yankees this season.

Josh Beckett tossed one-hit ball while striking out eight over six innings as the Red Sox blanked the Yanks 7-0 at Fenway Park. David Ortiz homered for only the third time this season, a two-run blast during a four-run second. J.D. Drew doubled home two runs and Nick Green had two RBI as the Red Sox handed the Yankees just their seventh loss in 26 games.

It's the first time since 1912 the Bosox have won the first six games of a season series against the Yankees.

Both teams are 34-24, 1 1-2 games ahead of the third-place Toronto Blue Jays.

In other American League action, Brian Tallet combined with two relievers on a two-hitter while the Blue Jays were blowing out Texas 9-0. Adam Lind homered for the third time in two games, Aaron Hill hit a two-run blast and Scott Rolen went 3 for 4 in the rout.

Jered Weaver won his third consecutive start, allowing two runs over six innings of the Los Angeles Angels' 4-3 verdict over Tampa Bay. Bobby Abreu's (ah-BRAY'-ooz), RBI double put the Angels ahead 4-2 in the seventh.

Detroit blew a three-run lead in the ninth before Miguel Cabrera snapped an 0 for 12 slump with a solo homer in the 10th to lift the Tigers past the Chicago White Sox 7-6. Placido Polanco laced a three-run double, and Tigers starter Dontrelle Willis allowed three runs and five hits in five innings.

Mark DeRosa's grand slam in the seventh inning was the difference in Cleveland's 8-4 win over Kansas City. The Indians trailed 4-0 before scoring four runs in the sixth.

Jason Kubel (KOO'-bul) belted a three-run homer and Justin Morneau added a solo shot and two RBIs while Minnesota was building a 10-0 lead in a 10-5 pounding of Oakland. Winning pitcher Scott Baker carried a two-hit shutout into the ninth before faltering.

Rookie Brad Bergesen pitched eight shutout innings of 5-hit ball as Baltimore knocked off Seattle 3-1 to end a 5-game losing streak. Nolan Reimold homered and had two RBIs for the Orioles.

Over to the National League, where the New York Mets took the opener of their 3-game set against the East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church homered, and Johan Santana pitched into the eighth inning as the Mets knocked off the Phils 6-5. Santana tied a career high by allowing four home runs, but he also tied the game with an RBI double in the sixth before Alex Cora singled home the go-ahead run two batters later.

Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez (ih-BAHN'-yehz), Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley homered for the Phillies, whose division lead was trimmed to two games over New York.

Also in the National League, homers by Andre Ethier (EE'-thee-ur), Matt Kemp and Orlando Hudson powered the Los Angeles Dodgers past San Diego 6-4. Ethier and Kemp each had three hits and two RBIs to help Chad Billingsley improve to 8-3.

Ted Lilly was sharp in the Chicago Cubs' 7-1 win at Houston, allowing only three hits while blanking the Astros over 6 2-3 innings. Mike Fontenot (FAHN'-teh-noh) hit a solo homer and Andres Blanco added a two-run double to help Lilly beat the Astros for the sixth straight time.

Florida pulled out a 4-3 win over St. Louis on Jeremy Hermida's walk-off homer leading off the bottom of the ninth. The Marlins trailed 3-0 until Emilio Bonifacio (boh-nih-FAH'-see-oh) hit a two-run double and an RBI single.

Yunel Escobar provided a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh as Atlanta posted its third straight win, beating Pittsburgh 4-3. Derek Lowe allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings for his seventh win of the year.

Johnny Cueto (KWAY'-toh) held Washington to a run and four hits over seven innings before Cincinnati completed a 3-2 victory against the Nationals. Brandon Phillips snapped a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the fifth.

Pablo Sandoval was 4 for 5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs in San Francisco's 9-4 romp at Arizona. Matt Cain is 8-1 after winning his fifth straight start, although he allowed four runs on six hits and five walks over 6 1-3 innings.

Nationals take Strasburg with No. 1 pick

SECAUCUS, N.J. (AP) - The Washington Nationals got the easy part out of the way Tuesday, selecting San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick. The tough part will be signing him.

Mixing his fastball with a wicked curve, the 6-5 right-hander went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA and 195 strikeouts in just 109 innings this season.

Strasburg's agent is expected to ask for a record signing bonus that far exceeds the $10.5 million Mark Prior got in 2001.

The Nats failed to sign their No. 1 draft choice last season.

The Seattle Mariners used the second pick of the draft on North Carolina center fielder Dustin Ackley. And San Diego picked high school outfielder Donovan Tate third.

Also in baseball:

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron has been suspended for two games after making contact with an umpire Saturday against the Atlanta Braves. Cameron has filed an appeal, allowing him to play until it is heard.

The Philadelphia Phillies have put struggling closer Brad Lidge (lihj) on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee, a move that's retroactive to Sunday. Lidge is having a miserable season after converting all 41 of his save opportunities for the World Series champs last year. He's currently 0-3 with a 7.27 ERA in 28 games, going 13 for 19 in save situations.

New York Mets reliever J.J. Putz (puts) has undergone surgery to remove a bone spur and fragments of bone from his right elbow. The Mets say he is expected to start throwing in about six weeks and could return to the active roster 10 to 12 weeks.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes says he has no timetable for returning from a torn hamstring. Reyes thinks he will be able to play when the leg is 80- to 85% healed, adding that this injury isn't as bad as the hamstring issues he experienced in 2003 and 2004.

Toronto Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch will have Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season. Litsch went on the disabled list April 14 after opening the year 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA.

The Texas Rangers have acquired reliever Jason Grilli from Colorado and recalled Guillermo Moscoso from AAA Oklahoma City. Rangers hurler Brandon McCarthy went on the 15-day disabled list because of a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade, and Kris Benson was sent outright to Oklahoma City.

Reliever Jorge Julio (HOHR'-hay HOO'-lee-oh) has agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The veteran right-hander appeared in 15 games earlier this season with Milwaukee. He has 99 saves in 453 career appearances.

Floyd steps down as Trojans coach

(AP) - Southern California is in the market for a men's basketball coach once again.

Tim Floyd has resigned after being accused of paying someone to help steer former star O.J. Mayo to the school. Yahoosports.com reported last month that 1-time Mayo confidant Louis Johnson said Floyd made a payment of $1,000 to Rodney Guillory, a "runner" for sports agent Bill Duffy. Such a payment would be a major violation of NCAA rules.

Floyd turned around the Trojans program in his four seasons there and became the first coach to lead the team to three straight NCAA tournament appearances.

Good news for Wildcats

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Villanova's Scottie Reynolds will return to school for his senior season, calling his decision to return to school the "best option" for him.

Reynolds averaged 15.2 points per game last season as Villanova reached its first Final Four since winning the national championship in 1985.

Nadal still uncertain about Wimbledon prospects

MADRID (AP) - Rafael Nadal says that despite pain in both knees, he'll travel to London next Tuesday in hopes of defending his Wimbledon title.

Nadal withdrew from this week's grass-court warm-up tournament at Queen's Club and just went through two days of medical tests in Barcelona. A physician for the Spanish Federation says the world No. 1 has tendinitis in both knees.

He says he won't play at the All England Club if he's "not 100% ready."

Federer exhausted

HALLE, Germany (AP) - Roger Federer has pulled out of the Gerry Weber Open, his usual grass-court warm-up for Wimbledon.

Federer says he is "overwhelmed" and "exhausted" after his French Open win.

The withdrawal comes two days after the Swiss star's record-tying 14th Grand Slam victory and first in Roland Garros.

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